Ireland to begin mass deportations of Ukrainian refugees — The Sunday Times
The Irish government has announced a gradual phase-out of the emergency accommodation system: thousands of refugees are to transition to independent living, and financial support for host families will be phased out by 2027.
This is reported by The Sunday Times.
The Irish government has decided to change its approach to assistance. The state is moving away from the emergency housing system. Refugees will now be encouraged to live independently, said Colm Brophy, Ireland’s Minister of State for Immigration. The government wants to eliminate the “two-tier system” where some receive long-term housing while others do not.
“We are striving for a situation where equality and fairness prevail in all areas, and this means that when it comes to access to housing, you receive it under the same conditions as those who work and live in Ireland and are also looking for housing,” Brophy explained.
The process will begin as early as August. It will not be immediate but will take six months.
Approximately 16,000 people will be affected. These are people currently living in hotels and other commercial properties. Each person will receive a letter three months before eviction. However, there is an important caveat. The government promises not to evict everyone indiscriminately. Protections will remain in place for vulnerable individuals. Those with specific barriers to independent living will be able to count on support.
The minister noted: “We have announced that we want to begin this in August, with the aim of implementing it over the coming months. We want to give people time to find alternative options. We want people to know what to expect in the second half of the year so that they have enough time to prepare.”
The situation in Ireland’s housing market is challenging, and rent is expensive. There are few available options, but the ministry remains optimistic. Brophy believes in the resilience of Ukrainians. He cites statistics from last year. At that time, 50% of Ukrainians found housing on their own after their contracts with hotels were terminated.
“I suppose someone will talk to a journalist and say they can’t find housing. But in the vast majority of cases, as we’ve seen so far, Ukrainians are very, very resilient when it comes to finding housing, because there’s a strong Ukrainian community here,” the politician added.
The changes will affect more than just hotels. The government plans to gradually phase out support for Irish people who host Ukrainians in their homes. Currently, such households receive 600 euros per month. This amount will decrease. The €600 amount will gradually decrease over the coming months. By March 2027, the payments will be completely phased out. This coincides with the expiration of temporary protection in the EU.
A new wave of migration to the EU: why Ukrainianrefugees are leaving Germany and Poland.
Ukrainian refugeesin Poland can receive compensation for housing rent for six months.
Earlier, the Polish government approved amendments to the special law on temporary protection for Ukrainians, which provide for the cancellation of some benefits.
It was also reported that Poland is extending temporary protection for Ukrainians until March 2025. At the same time, it may tighten residency rules for refugees.
